eCommerce has grown extremely popular in recent years and it is undoubtedly becoming the future of retail. More and more people are turning to online shopping because it is convenient, and saves time. According to Statista, retail eCommerce sales are projected to grow by 56% over the next years, reaching a whopping $8.1 trillion by the end of 2026.
So if you are considering opening an eCommerce business, there has never been a better time to do it. With this in mind, one of your main focuses should be optimizing your website to provide visitors with the best shopping experience possible. Your website is the first impression that your customers get about your business so it should be on point and up to speed with all the latest features.
In the article below, we share the must-haves of an eCommerce website in 2022.
Use the Right Tools
First and foremost, when you are running an online business, it’s essential to use the right tools if you are looking to succeed. Having the right tools can help you save precious time and money and expand your business. For instance, if you are online apparel and fashion retailer, implementing a reliable apparel software solution can enable you to easily manage inventory, orders, and customers.
Since apparel business owners must have complete control over a lot of information, such as garment sizes and colors, an apparel software program will consolidate all this data in a single location, saving them a great deal of time and effort while managing their online fashion business. All of this will lead to better organization and efficiency, not to mention stellar customer experience.
Consider SEO Hosting
Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential in today’s eCommerce world. To make your website more visible and reach your target audience, search engines like Google have to find it and rank it appropriately. To improve your website’s online visibility, you might want to consider using SEO hosting services.
SEO hosting provides you with the opportunity of having several C-class IP addresses that are utilized for creating many websites that link to your primary one. This will lead to improved ranking and make search engines notice your website more easily.
If your IP address is in the location of your target market, you will succeed to rank higher, grab the attention of potential customers, and even help you reach markets you previously didn’t even think you could. So, when building your eCommerce website, make sure to invest in an SEO VPS hosting plan to increase your server functionality, generate organic traffic, and improve search engine rankings.
Security Features
As technology continues to advance, the risks of cyber attacks and security breaches increase. As a result, another important must-have for your eCommerce website is security features. One of the best ways to secure important information and data online is by using a virtual private network (VPN) which is usually the first line of defense against malware and other cyberattacks.
To protect your consumer’s data and profits and avoid having your website compromised, eCommerce businesses are encouraged to use a professional type of VPN service, especially when you have medium-sized to large-sized teams from different parts of the world accessing your valuable data.
According to a recent report, 2021 registered the highest average cost of a data breach in 17 years, at $4.24 million. For this reason, to keep your eCommerce website and your customer’s information safe and secure, you should enhance your website with security features like SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Certificate, set up multi-factor authentication, and choose plug-ins carefully. These features will boost security and ensure that all data passed between the web server and browser remains private.
Offer Multiple Payment Options
When it comes to your eCommerce website, you should make sure it is flexible in terms of payment options. Having multiple options enhances the overall customer experience as mobile payment services, cryptocurrencies, and digital wallets are becoming payment methods that customers appreciate having as an alternative.
You can still offer traditional methods like bank transfer and credit cards but the new payment methods make customers feel like their data is more protected. To ensure customer retention, customer loyalty growth, and build trust with your customers, reassure them they have many options to choose from to complete their online purchase. For this reason, display your payment options prominently before checkout.
Create an Omnichannel Platform
Once you have an optimized eCommerce website, it is essential to increase your reach by introducing an omnichannel experience that will help you connect with customers and provide them with exceptional customer service without them having to log into different social media channels and other platforms.
An omnichannel approach will allow you to meet your customer regardless of where they are and give them proper service across their chosen communication channels. Introducing omnichannel customer service will help customers choose how and where they want to interact with your brand.
Final Thoughts
An optimized eCommerce website can take your business to the next level. From choosing an appropriate hosting plan to offering multiple payment options, we listed the must-haves of a successful eCommerce website in 2022. However, if you truly want your business to succeed, make sure to invest in the right tools to streamline your eCommerce operations.
